Grêmio scramble a point at Náutico

League leaders Grêmio avoided a second straight defeat thanks to a late, late goal by Rever away at Náutico. Paulo Santos had given the Recife side the lead early in the second-half. But Grêmio showed just why they are top of the league after the centreback netted in stoppage time. The Porto Alegre outfit are now five points above Palmeiras and remain on track to take their first Brasileiro since 1996.

Palmeiras went second for the first time this season after disposing of Portuguesa 4-2 in the estádio Pacaembu. Alex Mineiro brought his total of goals to 15 after scoring twice. Gustavo and Kléber got the other two for Palmeiras. Jonas knocked in a brace for Portuguesa but couldn’t save the job of coach Valdir Espinosa who was fired after just 8 games. Estevam Soares was appointed on Monday.

Botafogo dropped to fourth after they failed to make it seven wins in a row on Sunday. Wellington Paulista had put Botafogo in front vs rivals Vasco but Madson’s free-kick was deflected in by Rodrigo Antônio late in the game.

Cruzeiro lost their third game out of the last four when they went down 2-0 at strugglers Santos. Kléber Pereira got both goals to draw level with Alex Mineiro.

São Paulo came from behind twice in the 2-2 draw away at Coritiba. Goals from Rodrigo and Hugo cancelled out strikes from Ricardinho and Keirrison.

Without a number of first-teamers, Vitória pulled off a surprise 2-1 away at Figueirense.

Internacional and Nilmar wasted a hatful of first-half chances against Flamengo in the estádio Beira-Rio. But Inter’s number 9 did hit the target after Fla keeper Bruno let the ball bounce off his chest and into the path of the striker. Fla though, took over in the second period and got a deserved equalizer through substitute Obina.

The situation also remains tight at the wrong end of the table, with only three points separating the bottom six.

See the table and all the results from the Campeonato Brasileiro round 22 here